Let me start this by saying that Owen Paterson has probably been the worst Environment minister in a generation. However, so outrageous were Pickle's comments on the Andrew Marr show, that Paterson has apparently complained to Cameron about the criticism of the Environment Agency.
Also, has anyone called for the Thames to be dredged yet?
I was actually quite taken aback when my intelligent-and-thoughtful-but-neutral friend delivered a devastating attack on Mr Cameron's speech last time I saw him for coffee. The most polite word he used was 'drivel'. If that is the impact it has had on him ...!
Torrance is a pleasure to read, Bell can't write for toffee.
Look back at Plebgate and you will see Mitchell had no friends or allies in the Whips' Office, Cabinet or backbenches. Clearly the man was no great loss to the diplomatic corps so it seems perverse to nominate him.
Especially for a job where you have almost no independent power, and your sole ability to get things done relies on your ability to persuade and form consensus among ministers from 28 different countries. Does anyone actually think Mitchell would be good at this?
He sounds like a shoo-in then...
Actually, if I were a BOO Conservative, I would have thought Nick Clegg was the perfect candidate. You want to ensure the EU is held in as great a level of contempt as possible. David David would probably go native. Liam Fox is off to NATO. Andrew Mitchell is insufferable. Clegg would ensure nobody took the EU seriously. Plus it would mean that the LibDems were engaged in civil war (Lefties vs Orange Bookers) ahead of the next GE, increasing the chances of Tory gains from the Libs.
However, I may be over-thinking this :-)
Is Fox really off to NATO, or is that a rumour being spread only by "friends of" Liam Fox?
Dave's timeshare sales speech is already the digital equivalent of chip papers. Only one speech last week that'll have any effect on the referendum, by someone who usually has 'disgraced ex msp' prefixed to his name when mentioned by the mighty organs of our press
On friday I posited the position of the coalition after the floods and concluded that the South-West of England will never forgive this collection of politicians for their evident failures and neglect.
The same thing is now happening in the Thames Valley. The cries of anger and disgust on the BBC and Sky this morning is only yet a shadow of those further west, but it is rising now to cast a dark stain on this government. While some may forgive, they won't forget in a hurry.
So how would UKIP stop the flooding apart from banning all gay marriages .
Look back at Plebgate and you will see Mitchell had no friends or allies in the Whips' Office, Cabinet or backbenches. Clearly the man was no great loss to the diplomatic corps so it seems perverse to nominate him.
Especially for a job where you have almost no independent power, and your sole ability to get things done relies on your ability to persuade and form consensus among ministers from 28 different countries. Does anyone actually think Mitchell would be good at this?
As if competence has ever been a requirement for being an EU commissioner.
TBF the British nominees have a pretty good record. Roy Jenkins, Leon Brittan, Chris Patten, Neil Kinnock, Peter Mandelson, Catherine Ashton: They're all heavyweight politicians, except for Ashton who seems to have turned out well, and I haven't heard of any of them bollocksing the job up particularly.
On friday I posited the position of the coalition after the floods and concluded that the South-West of England will never forgive this collection of politicians for their evident failures and neglect.
The same thing is now happening in the Thames Valley. The cries of anger and disgust on the BBC and Sky this morning is only yet a shadow of those further west, but it is rising now to cast a dark stain on this government. While some may forgive, they won't forget in a hurry.
Although it could swing one of two ways:
(a) the government has been negligent or (b) climate change is real
Labour has been saying both (a) and (b), so they may be the biggest beneficiaries.
Funny that not one leading labour politician has travelled down to the South-west disaster area. Excepting ( who ain't leading anything) Lord Smith, who was booed from the area. Pronto!
However, Farage was in excellent form yesterday and did UKIP no harm whatsoever.
Dave's timeshare sales speech is already the digital equivalent of chip papers. Only one speech last week that'll have any effect on the referendum, by someone who usually has 'disgraced ex msp' prefixed to his name when mentioned by the mighty organs of our press
Dave's timeshare sales speech is already the digital equivalent of chip papers. Only one speech last week that'll have any effect on the referendum, by someone who usually has 'disgraced ex msp' prefixed to his name when mentioned by the mighty organs of our press
On friday I posited the position of the coalition after the floods and concluded that the South-West of England will never forgive this collection of politicians for their evident failures and neglect.
The same thing is now happening in the Thames Valley. The cries of anger and disgust on the BBC and Sky this morning is only yet a shadow of those further west, but it is rising now to cast a dark stain on this government. While some may forgive, they won't forget in a hurry.
Although it could swing one of two ways:
(a) the government has been negligent or (b) climate change is real
Labour has been saying both (a) and (b), so they may be the biggest beneficiaries.
Funny that not one leading labour politician has travelled down to the South-west disaster area. Excepting Lord Smith, who was booed from the area. Pronto!
However, Farage was in excellent form yesterday and did UKIP no harm whatsoever.
Has there ever been any event in the history of the world that has not been a positive for UKIP?
Look back at Plebgate and you will see Mitchell had no friends or allies in the Whips' Office, Cabinet or backbenches. Clearly the man was no great loss to the diplomatic corps so it seems perverse to nominate him.
Especially for a job where you have almost no independent power, and your sole ability to get things done relies on your ability to persuade and form consensus among ministers from 28 different countries. Does anyone actually think Mitchell would be good at this?
As if competence has ever been a requirement for being an EU commissioner.
TBF the British nominees have a pretty good record. Roy Jenkins, Leon Brittan, Chris Patten, Neil Kinnock, Peter Mandelson, Catherine Ashton: They're all heavyweight politicians, except for Ashton who seems to have turned out well, and I haven't heard of any of them bollocksing the job up particularly.
"Yet it's not all bad news. Uniquely, wetlands can be created – or recreated – much more quickly and easily than other vital habitats such as ancient woodlands, hedgerows or rainforest. As Baroness Barbara Young, chief executive of the Environment Agency, says, "Just add water!""
On friday I posited the position of the coalition after the floods and concluded that the South-West of England will never forgive this collection of politicians for their evident failures and neglect.
The same thing is now happening in the Thames Valley. The cries of anger and disgust on the BBC and Sky this morning is only yet a shadow of those further west, but it is rising now to cast a dark stain on this government. While some may forgive, they won't forget in a hurry.
Although it could swing one of two ways:
(a) the government has been negligent or (b) climate change is real
Labour has been saying both (a) and (b), so they may be the biggest beneficiaries.
Funny that not one leading labour politician has travelled down to the South-west disaster area. Excepting Lord Smith, who was booed from the area. Pronto!
However, Farage was in excellent form yesterday and did UKIP no harm whatsoever.
Has there ever been any event in the history of the world that has not been a positive for UKIP?
I was going to say the Treaty of Rome, but on current form who knows ?
Dave's timeshare sales speech is already the digital equivalent of chip papers. Only one speech last week that'll have any effect on the referendum, by someone who usually has 'disgraced ex msp' prefixed to his name when mentioned by the mighty organs of our press
The gross disappointment in the Labour government post 2015 is going to be a joy to behold for the Right.
Apparently they're going to improve health, sort out education, grow the economy, stop the floods - AND cut the deficit.
Actually, I've changed my mind. There are two types of politicians:
1. Those who believe in the magic money tree. 2. Those who don't.
Those in category 1 outnumber those in category 2 by at least an order of magnitude.
Pretty much all Labour politicians believe in the magic money tree. Nigel Farage believes in the magic money tree. The majority of Liberal Democrat politicians believe in it - but most have agreed to suspend disbelief for a few years.
Dave's timeshare sales speech is already the digital equivalent of chip papers. Only one speech last week that'll have any effect on the referendum, by someone who usually has 'disgraced ex msp' prefixed to his name when mentioned by the mighty organs of our press
Maybe that is why Mr. Brooke has been appearing so smug and Dr. Palmer so downbeat these past few weeks?
Eh? That's projection, old boy. I try to be realistic. I think Labour will win fairly easily if nothing much changes except for economic growth, though I realise that 15 months of black swans could produce who knows what effects. I'm quite confident of winning myself - for example, we are currently delivering my latest 4-pager in 3 months to every household, and the Tories haven't had enough people to do that since last May. They just don't have a significant constituency-wide ground organisation except when they bring people in for special efforts.
My dear Doctor, you are quite right. My observations were both pure projection.
But there is no need to profess your complete commitment to fighting your seat on PB. It is bad enough having to listen to coach-speak about "positives" at Sochi and to hear how all the TeamGB ski-jumpers are "fit and confident".
The main and interesting point though is the revelation by the ONS (and confirmed by other economic research) that employees in the manufacturing sector are both more productive and, as a consequence, being better paid than those in other sectors.
The extent of this trend, and self-realisation amongst those benefitting, must surely be a factor influencing voting intention in the Midlands marginals.
On friday I posited the position of the coalition after the floods and concluded that the South-West of England will never forgive this collection of politicians for their evident failures and neglect.
The same thing is now happening in the Thames Valley. The cries of anger and disgust on the BBC and Sky this morning is only yet a shadow of those further west, but it is rising now to cast a dark stain on this government. While some may forgive, they won't forget in a hurry.
Although it could swing one of two ways:
(a) the government has been negligent or (b) climate change is real
Labour has been saying both (a) and (b), so they may be the biggest beneficiaries.
And the new Labour administration in 2015 will be different? Is spending money on flood defences in Labour's manifesto?
. What's worse, those Tories and UKIP are in denial about climate change.
The floods affecting large parts of the country are probably connected to climate change, David Cameron has said.
Dave's timeshare sales speech is already the digital equivalent of chip papers. Only one speech last week that'll have any effect on the referendum, by someone who usually has 'disgraced ex msp' prefixed to his name when mentioned by the mighty organs of our press
BTW Monica, how many sweaties have you phoned to persuade to stay in the Union?
It's pathetic to see a one time militant international socialist reduced to such vulgar nationalism. A chancer.
And I thought you were a fan of George Galloway.
30,000 views of Tommy's speech in a week. How many do you think Dave's 'Brand UK' waffle will get?
Tommy's speech , 30,000 views One Direction crap, 200,000,000 views
Cameron crap 1,253 views.
You're missing today's big story involving One Direction
[One Direction's] cheeky Irish crooner, Niall Horan, has been involved in an entertaining Twitter argument with Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips, which culminated in Phillips, over 16 stone of pure hardness, inviting Horan, and "the rest of the Beatles" down to a Wales training session to call him an "idiot" to his face.
On friday I posited the position of the coalition after the floods and concluded that the South-West of England will never forgive this collection of politicians for their evident failures and neglect.
The same thing is now happening in the Thames Valley. The cries of anger and disgust on the BBC and Sky this morning is only yet a shadow of those further west, but it is rising now to cast a dark stain on this government. While some may forgive, they won't forget in a hurry.
The "cries of anger and disgust" just go to show what an infantile country we've become recently. A bit of 1940s stoicism wouldn't go amiss.
"Also, has anyone called for the Thames to be dredged yet?"
The EA tends to be a bit green (OK, I'm not, so I would think that).
Dredging? Think of all the little creepy-crawlies and their habitats that would disrupt.
By "creepy-crawlies" I take it you mean the inhabitants of the "habitat" that is central London, who'd be pretty disrupted when the entire Thames basin watershed arrived at the Barrier at high speed at the same time as a spring tide surge due to dredging increasing the Thames flow rate and decreasing the holding capacity?
Dave's timeshare sales speech is already the digital equivalent of chip papers. Only one speech last week that'll have any effect on the referendum, by someone who usually has 'disgraced ex msp' prefixed to his name when mentioned by the mighty organs of our press
I don't really get this Andrew Lansley idea. What particular reason would Cameron have for appointing him?
To an extent the same objection might apply to Andrew Mitchell. Of course it's true that Mitchell seems to have been unfairly treated, and Cameron will want to appoint him to some suitable post (although as Life_in_market_town points out, there is still a pending legal case). However, it's not clear to me why an EU Commissioner post in particular would be a suitable one for Mitchell, or indeed if he would that rather than a return to government. So, whilst I think he's a perfectly possible candidate, the odds look mean to me.
Thinking more widely, JackW might be more on the right track in pointing to some of the slightly older politicians who are less active now in UK politics. But who knows? The problem with this market is that there are simply too many possible candidates, and the ones the bookies have listed are not necessarily the ones on Cameron's shortlist.
You're missing today's big story involving One Direction
[One Direction's] cheeky Irish crooner, Niall Horan, has been involved in an entertaining Twitter argument with Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips, which culminated in Phillips, over 16 stone of pure hardness, inviting Horan, and "the rest of the Beatles" down to a Wales training session to call him an "idiot" to his face.
I can't see Scotland (with or without independence) being axed from the Six Nations. They really do need to improve, though. It's hard to imagine Scotland being one of the dominant teams in the tournament (or its predecessors).
You're missing today's big story involving One Direction
[One Direction's] cheeky Irish crooner, Niall Horan, has been involved in an entertaining Twitter argument with Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips, which culminated in Phillips, over 16 stone of pure hardness, inviting Horan, and "the rest of the Beatles" down to a Wales training session to call him an "idiot" to his face.
I can't see Scotland (with or without independence) being axed from the Six Nations. They really do need to improve, though. It's hard to imagine Scotland being one of the dominant teams in the tournament (or its predecessors).
They've had some really inept coaches recently. It was only 24 years ago, that the Scottish team gave one of the most memorable rugby thrashings ever given to England.
I can't see Scotland (with or without independence) being axed from the Six Nations. They really do need to improve, though. It's hard to imagine Scotland being one of the dominant teams in the tournament (or its predecessors).
Was Rugby lover Salmond at Murrayfield on Saturday? Or does he just attend sporting events in London and the US ?
Thinking more widely, JackW might be more on the right track in pointing to some of the slightly older politicians who are less active now in UK politics. But who knows? The problem with this market is that there are simply too many possible candidates, and the ones the bookies have listed are not necessarily the ones on Cameron's shortlist.
Does it make any difference which post in the EU Commission Cameron would prefer to be held by his nominee?
This might be more important to Cameron than the exact identity of the Commissioner, and so he might choose a Commissioner on the basis that they have the relevant experience that would make it easier for the UK to argue for the Commission post he would most like us to have.
I'd rule out Mitchell, whilst one police officer has ended up in prison, he's currently engaged in a potentially very messy legal action, that may develop not necessarily to Andrew Mitchell's advantage and ultimately damage his reputation.
On friday I posited the position of the coalition after the floods and concluded that the South-West of England will never forgive this collection of politicians for their evident failures and neglect.
The same thing is now happening in the Thames Valley. The cries of anger and disgust on the BBC and Sky this morning is only yet a shadow of those further west, but it is rising now to cast a dark stain on this government. While some may forgive, they won't forget in a hurry.
The "cries of anger and disgust" just go to show what an infantile country we've become recently. A bit of 1940s stoicism wouldn't go amiss.
I presume you weren't alive in 1940, AJ. I was, and at the age of 6 was in in London all through the Blitz (living in Hackney actually). Young as I was, I still remember the cries of disgust and even anger of Londoners that the ack-ack guns were doing nothing to stop the bombers. Churchill had to get General Pile to use all the guns at night - they didn't get many planes, but the noise of the returning fire wasa comfort.
I can't see Scotland (with or without independence) being axed from the Six Nations. They really do need to improve, though. It's hard to imagine Scotland being one of the dominant teams in the tournament (or its predecessors).
The lowest team total in a series is 42pts by Italy in 2004 - Scotland have 3 pts after 2 games...
BBC report seems to have missed the bit about the EA's 2008 decision to encourage flooding.
Shocking left wing bias by the Tory-run BBC. But who cares? Anyone who thinks voters will be impressed by this blame-shifting game will likely be disappointed when pencil next hits ballot paper.
Let me start this by saying that Owen Paterson has probably been the worst Environment minister in a generation. However, so outrageous were Pickle's comments on the Andrew Marr show, that Paterson has apparently complained to Cameron about the criticism of the Environment Agency.
Also, has anyone called for the Thames to be dredged yet?
Well, leaving aside dredging in the estuary for ports, the riverine Thames used to be dredged, although now it is only done to maintain navigation, rather than for water management purposes: http://www.jubileeriver.co.uk/Jubilee River story - 0550.htm
But the situation in the areas of the Thames that are flooding at the moment is very different from that on the levels - the Thames is a classic major riverine system, whereas the levels are riverine systems, including tidal, on reclaimed land barely above sea level.
The desire for genius children is a powerful force in middle-class Britain and it's making everyone miserable, especially our offspring, says Alex Proud":
Mr. Flashman (deceased), I think Scotland may 'beat' that. France and Wales will not be easy for the Scots, and Italy at home (I think they play at home this year against the Scots) is not a formality for any team.
On floods, there appears to have been little shift in the polls. I'd guess most people think it's rained lots, for ages, so there's bound to be flooding.
Does it make any difference which post in the EU Commission Cameron would prefer to be held by his nominee?
This might be more important to Cameron than the exact identity of the Commissioner, and so he might choose a Commissioner on the basis that they have the relevant experience that would make it easier for the UK to argue for the Commission post he would most like us to have.
That's a good point - the problem with the Catherine Ashton appointment wasn't so much the person as the fact that, to the delight of our competitors, Brown somehow managed to miss out on the UK getting Internal Market & Services, and therefore financial regulation.
By 'creepy-crawlies', I meant the insect/worm life, not the big girl's blouses that cry their eyes out when the weather discomforts them.
Where's the bodies, says I.
Bring in the Dutch, they sorted the fens out efficiently, and they didn't worry about the habitat of the lesser spotted Lincolnshire worm.
Well, the good news is that we've now got Murrayfield's pitch to rehouse any lesser spotted Lincolnshire worms that might be disturbed by the putative dredging of the Thames. They'll have plenty of company.
I'm fairly sure that the logic for not dredging out the Thames would first and foremost be the desire to avoid catastrophic flooding through the middle of London though. On the other hand, on a similar principle, I suppose the Thames Barrier *might* have been built solely to protect the small but scientifically significant population of southern striped sand eels. Unlikely though.
BBC report seems to have missed the bit about the EA's 2008 decision to encourage flooding.
Shocking left wing bias by the Tory-run BBC. But who cares? Anyone who thinks voters will be impressed by this blame-shifting game will likely be disappointed when pencil next hits ballot paper.
I dunno about that. I'd imagine the people living in the seats concerned - and any others in reclaimed areas like East Anglia under threat of extinction from the same EU biodiversity targets - will care a great deal that the EU wants to flood them out of their homes with the collusion of the EA and Europhile political class.
Look back at Plebgate and you will see Mitchell had no friends or allies in the Whips' Office, Cabinet or backbenches. Clearly the man was no great loss to the diplomatic corps so it seems perverse to nominate him.
Especially for a job where you have almost no independent power, and your sole ability to get things done relies on your ability to persuade and form consensus among ministers from 28 different countries. Does anyone actually think Mitchell would be good at this?
As if competence has ever been a requirement for being an EU commissioner.
TBF the British nominees have a pretty good record. Roy Jenkins, Leon Brittan, Chris Patten, Neil Kinnock, Peter Mandelson, Catherine Ashton: They're all heavyweight politicians, except for Ashton who seems to have turned out well, and I haven't heard of any of them bollocksing the job up particularly.
Neil Kinnock?
Are you sure?
I don't know anything good or bad about the job he did as Commissioner, but he was definitely a serious politician. Even if you think the voters were right not to make him PM, wouldn't you give him some credit for where he took the Labour Party? (Bearing in mind where it started.)
Thinking more widely, JackW might be more on the right track in pointing to some of the slightly older politicians who are less active now in UK politics. But who knows? The problem with this market is that there are simply too many possible candidates, and the ones the bookies have listed are not necessarily the ones on Cameron's shortlist.
Does it make any difference which post in the EU Commission Cameron would prefer to be held by his nominee?
This might be more important to Cameron than the exact identity of the Commissioner, and so he might choose a Commissioner on the basis that they have the relevant experience that would make it easier for the UK to argue for the Commission post he would most like us to have.
I think our chances of getting the right person by this method are pretty slim as we have to get two things right, but the way to look at this one would be to start with a list of open jobs, ignore the very top ones and anything below the bottom half, and see what top-tier posts the British might want to angle for.
I can't see Scotland (with or without independence) being axed from the Six Nations. They really do need to improve, though. It's hard to imagine Scotland being one of the dominant teams in the tournament (or its predecessors).
Was Rugby lover Salmond at Murrayfield on Saturday? Or does he just attend sporting events in London and the US ?
Maybe he was sorting out the problems with his bannockburn hootananny.
This morning we have a pretty clear evidence of the difference between different parts of the BBC. The Panorama team, who are a great example of independent, objective journalism reveal systematic fraud on an unbelievable scale in our immigration system by the very organisations supposed to be vetting people. Yet the BBC News team decide to relegate this to a minor story on their webpage. Apparently it's less important than the car smoking ban. Where does car smoking go on the list of most important issues for the UK public, relevant to immigration?
Also, why on Earth is the Home Office responding to this with "we didn't renew contracts" etc? Surely people should be going to jail for this? It's fraud on a massive scale: people should be getting six months for each person in the class, multiplied by however many classes they did it for.
EU immigration: Why Ukip should pay close attention to what happens next in Switzerland The Swiss referendum question doesn't specify what shape the immigration quotas would take, but only instructs the Swiss Parliament to draft legislation addressing the issue within the next three years. Much can still happen. However, no matter what, the EU will most certainly negotiate any revised deal with one eye firmly fixed on London, worrying about giving the Brits ideas. And for anyone with even the slightest interest in Britain’s future place in Europe, this is a key one to watch.
Does it make any difference which post in the EU Commission Cameron would prefer to be held by his nominee?
This might be more important to Cameron than the exact identity of the Commissioner, and so he might choose a Commissioner on the basis that they have the relevant experience that would make it easier for the UK to argue for the Commission post he would most like us to have.
That's a good point - the problem with the Catherine Ashton appointment wasn't so much the person as the fact that, to the delight of our competitors, Brown somehow managed to miss out on the UK getting Internal Market & Services, and therefore financial regulation.
Non-rhetorically, do countries' nominees tend to get posts that regulate their domestic industries? Giving them those sounds like a very bad idea, but also like the kind of bad idea the EU would have.
By 'creepy-crawlies', I meant the insect/worm life, not the big girl's blouses that cry their eyes out when the weather discomforts them.
Where's the bodies, says I.
Bring in the Dutch, they sorted the fens out efficiently, and they didn't worry about the habitat of the lesser spotted Lincolnshire worm.
Well, the good news is that we've now got Murrayfield's pitch to rehouse any lesser spotted Lincolnshire worms that might be disturbed by the putative dredging of the Thames. They'll have plenty of company.
I'm fairly sure that the logic for not dredging out the Thames would first and foremost be the desire to avoid catastrophic flooding through the middle of London though. On the other hand, on a similar principle, I suppose the Thames Barrier *might* have been built solely to protect the small but scientifically significant population of southern striped sand eels. Unlikely though.
It's bizarre that the MP for Bridgwater is so keen for that town to be flooded, then.
EU immigration: Why Ukip should pay close attention to what happens next in Switzerland The Swiss referendum question doesn't specify what shape the immigration quotas would take, but only instructs the Swiss Parliament to draft legislation addressing the issue within the next three years. Much can still happen. However, no matter what, the EU will most certainly negotiate any revised deal with one eye firmly fixed on London, worrying about giving the Brits ideas. And for anyone with even the slightest interest in Britain’s future place in Europe, this is a key one to watch.
AveryLP [6.44, 6.45am - two posts] This assumes that there is no one-time switch from cash spending to card spending. There may not be, of course, but how many of us here are drawing as much cash as we did, say, one, two or even five years ago? Someone should have the numbers (cash in circulation) to hand, I don't.
This supports DavidL's claims that households have been deleveraging. Net Secured lending has risen but only in the last quarter of 2013, as up 'til then households were paying off more mortgage debt than they were in receipt of new lending. Even so the net rise of 1.9% over two years is minimal.
With unsecured lending the main change has been an offsetting shift from overdraft finance to credit card lending with very limited net impact. Personal loans have risen this year mainly due to increased finance for new car purchase. The net impact though is of a small reduction in overall unsecured lending.
More movement on the deposits side though. There has been much talk of consumption being financed by a reduction in the Savings Ratio, but although the BoE figures show movement of funds out of interesting bearing term accounts a very large proportion has gone to the more tax efficient ISA savings products rather than to consumption expenditure.
All in all these figures show a very healthy (almost too healthy) position in household finances.
"Cost of Living Crisis"! What cost of living crisis?
I rather think that these figures could be spun more than one way. To you, they demonstrate economic recovery; to someone else they might demonstrate a widespread fear of bank collapse and therefore a preference to hold cash. Or even both! For example, improved household finances in the London & SE; fear elsewhere.
It will be interesting to see if there is a significant regional variation in the local elections this coming May. I suggest there will be, with the Tory position unchanged in London & SE and losing seats fairly heavily elsewhere.
Hmmm.
The figures don't need much spinning. They speak for themselves.
Borrowing flat. Cash in circulation up 10%. Deposits at banks up 15%.
The caution is being shown in consumption restraint and aversion to credit rather than cash holding which may derive more, indirectly, from QE stimulus than stuffing mattresses,.
The figures do illustrate though why the base rate is unlikely to rise in the short term. Pushing the rate up typically increases saving, reduces borrowing and restrains consumption. Looking at the current figures it is clear that none of these three objectives would be appropriate to today's state of household finances!
I can't see Scotland (with or without independence) being axed from the Six Nations. They really do need to improve, though. It's hard to imagine Scotland being one of the dominant teams in the tournament (or its predecessors).
Was Rugby lover Salmond at Murrayfield on Saturday? Or does he just attend sporting events in London and the US ?
Maybe he was sorting out the problems with his bannockburn hootananny.
Bannockburn Live has been hit by the impact of Britain’s major Armed Forces Day celebration, which is being held on the same weekend in Stirling following a surprise announcement by the Ministry of Defence once the Bannockburn event had been finalised.
Some of you forget how brilliant the appointment of Lady Ashton was.
The great Morus tipped her at 50/1 back in 2008.
The irony was, Morus was in America at the time, and couldn't back her himself, but a few PBers did.
It's a painful memory. I saw Morus' post just after he made it, and thought 'Nah, cannot be'.
Sorry to bring back painful memories, but if it is any consolation, that was my original thought as well, but I thought "The site has a good history on 50/1 tips winning"
James Delingpole (@JamesDelingpole) 10/02/2014 09:54 Soon our rivers will have forgotten what water looks like warns Monbiot with characteristic insight in 2006 theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
Non-rhetorically, do countries' nominees tend to get posts that regulate their domestic industries? Giving them those sounds like a very bad idea, but also like the kind of bad idea the EU would have.
I can't see Scotland (with or without independence) being axed from the Six Nations. They really do need to improve, though. It's hard to imagine Scotland being one of the dominant teams in the tournament (or its predecessors).
Was Rugby lover Salmond at Murrayfield on Saturday? Or does he just attend sporting events in London and the US ?
Maybe he was sorting out the problems with his bannockburn hootananny.
AveryLP [6.44, 6.45am - two posts] This assumes that there is no one-time switch from cash spending to card spending. There may not be, of course, but how many of us here are drawing as much cash as we did, say, one, two or even five years ago? Someone should have the numbers (cash in circulation) to hand, I don't.
This supports DavidL's claims that households have been deleveraging. Net Secured lending has risen but only in the last quarter of 2013, as up 'til then households were paying off more mortgage debt than they were in receipt of new lending. Even so the net rise of 1.9% over two years is minimal.
With unsecured lending the main change has been an offsetting shift from overdraft finance to credit card lending with very limited net impact. Personal loans have risen this year mainly due to increased finance for new car purchase. The net impact though is of a small reduction in overall unsecured lending.
More movement on the deposits side though. There has been much talk of consumption being financed by a reduction in the Savings Ratio, but although the BoE figures show movement of funds out of interesting bearing term accounts a very large proportion has gone to the more tax efficient ISA savings products rather than to consumption expenditure.
All in all these figures show a very healthy (almost too healthy) position in household finances.
"Cost of Living Crisis"! What cost of living crisis?
I rather think that these figures could be spun more than one way. To you, they demonstrate economic recovery; to someone else they might demonstrate a widespread fear of bank collapse and therefore a preference to hold cash. Or even both! For example, improved household finances in the London & SE; fear elsewhere.
It will be interesting to see if there is a significant regional variation in the local elections this coming May. I suggest there will be, with the Tory position unchanged in London & SE and losing seats fairly heavily elsewhere.
Hmmm.
The figures don't need much spinning. They speak for themselves.
Borrowing flat. Cash in circulation up 10%. Deposits at banks up 15%.
The caution is being shown in consumption restraint and aversion to credit rather than cash holding which may derive more, indirectly, from QE stimulus than stuffing mattresses,.
The figures do illustrate though why the base rate is unlikely to rise in the short term. Pushing the rate up typically increases saving, reduces borrowing and restrains consumption. Looking at the current figures it is clear that none of these three objectives would be appropriate to today's state of household finances!
AveryLP [6.44, 6.45am - two posts] This assumes that there is no one-time switch from cash spending to card spending. There may not be, of course, but how many of us here are drawing as much cash as we did, say, one, two or even five years ago? Someone should have the numbers (cash in circulation) to hand, I don't.
This supports DavidL's claims that households have been deleveraging. Net Secured lending has risen but only in the last quarter of 2013, as up 'til then households were paying off more mortgage debt than they were in receipt of new lending. Even so the net rise of 1.9% over two years is minimal.
With unsecured lending the main change has been an offsetting shift from overdraft finance to credit card lending with very limited net impact. Personal loans have risen this year mainly due to increased finance for new car purchase. The net impact though is of a small reduction in overall unsecured lending.
More movement on the deposits side though. There has been much talk of consumption being financed by a reduction in the Savings Ratio, but although the BoE figures show movement of funds out of interesting bearing term accounts a very large proportion has gone to the more tax efficient ISA savings products rather than to consumption expenditure.
All in all these figures show a very healthy (almost too healthy) position in household finances.
"Cost of Living Crisis"! What cost of living crisis?
I rather think that these figures could be spun more than one way. To you, they demonstrate economic recovery; to someone else they might demonstrate a widespread fear of bank collapse and therefore a preference to hold cash. Or even both! For example, improved household finances in the London & SE; fear elsewhere.
It will be interesting to see if there is a significant regional variation in the local elections this coming May. I suggest there will be, with the Tory position unchanged in London & SE and losing seats fairly heavily elsewhere.
Hmmm.
The figures don't need much spinning. They speak for themselves.
Borrowing flat. Cash in circulation up 10%. Deposits at banks up 15%.
The caution is being shown in consumption restraint and aversion to credit rather than cash holding which may derive more, indirectly, from QE stimulus than stuffing mattresses,.
The figures do illustrate though why the base rate is unlikely to rise in the short term. Pushing the rate up typically increases saving, reduces borrowing and restrains consumption. Looking at the current figures it is clear that none of these three objectives would be appropriate to today's state of household finances!
Hasn't National Savings just dropped some of its rates?
I expect that most people who are not directly affected by the flooding are mostly thinking: "goodness, there's been an awful lot of rain recently". But to the extent that it does affect political thinking, it can't be good news for the government.
After the break on Sky News something I was just thinking myself...
What good are visits from politiçians to the people affected by the floods in Somerset?
Positive: Chance for those affected to speak directly to people in charge.
Negative: VIP has to be escorted around thus consuming some resource that could be used to achieve something more useful.
I reckon it's a bad habit that we've developed, but as senior politicians spend less time talking directly to normal people, and more time on stage-managed events, it might be better than the likely alternative, if not ideal.
"Joiner Ray Hendley, 36, explained: "I'm voting for Ukip because the other parties talk rubbish. They want to keep everything in the capital – as long as London's fine, they don't care."
Graham Lowe, a warehouse superviser and ex-Labour voter, said he had switched his vote because of Ukip's stance on immigration. "Every night in the pub the conversation turns to foreign workers," he said."
Non-rhetorically, do countries' nominees tend to get posts that regulate their domestic industries? Giving them those sounds like a very bad idea, but also like the kind of bad idea the EU would have.
It's a question of horse-trading.
Sure that's the process, but I'm wondering what the typical outcomes are.
By 'creepy-crawlies', I meant the insect/worm life, not the big girl's blouses that cry their eyes out when the weather discomforts them.
Where's the bodies, says I.
Bring in the Dutch, they sorted the fens out efficiently, and they didn't worry about the habitat of the lesser spotted Lincolnshire worm.
Well, the good news is that we've now got Murrayfield's pitch to rehouse any lesser spotted Lincolnshire worms that might be disturbed by the putative dredging of the Thames. They'll have plenty of company.
I'm fairly sure that the logic for not dredging out the Thames would first and foremost be the desire to avoid catastrophic flooding through the middle of London though. On the other hand, on a similar principle, I suppose the Thames Barrier *might* have been built solely to protect the small but scientifically significant population of southern striped sand eels. Unlikely though.
It's bizarre that the MP for Bridgwater is so keen for that town to be flooded, then.
Different type of river system based on draining low-lying reclaimed land - it's not the same principle as the downstream flooding risk of a higher drainage basin.
Mr. K, the warmery bloody annoys me. I wouldn't mind if they were making legitimate points, but it's just bullshit. Sky's science correspondent was talking about a pattern emerging (prolonged rain), which is fair enough, but you can't say "This is unusual = global warming caused largely or entirely by industrial activity of mankind". You might as well suggest Poseidon is angry.
The Earth has always warmed and cooled. It's 4bn years old, so taking records from decades or even centuries ago isn't that great, and even if we do we see warm periods during the reigns of Caligul/Claudius and Henry VIII.
And, even if it's 100% accurate, stopping it requires reducing carbon emissions from Africa, South America, China and India. How realistic is that? It's impossible.
Meanwhile, we're going to close Eggborough power station which could push prices up by 10%, because coal is the excrement of Satan and only wind farms will appease Warmor, the one true god.
And where is this bloody warming? Global temperatures have plateaued for a decade and a half. This is neither predicted nor explained by the scientists (if they're worthy of the name).
Mr. Eagles, or even longer odds than that, now and then.
I expect that most people who are not directly affected by the flooding are mostly thinking: "goodness, there's been an awful lot of rain recently". But to the extent that it does affect political thinking, it can't be good news for the government.
It'll be interesting to see how Somerset votes this May.
Whether you believe global warming flat-lined 15 years ago - which it did - or you're waiting for the BBC to admit it flat-lined 15 years ago shouldn't really matter as they are both equally valid reasons for improving flood and sea defenses.
"Joiner Ray Hendley, 36, explained: "I'm voting for Ukip because the other parties talk rubbish. They want to keep everything in the capital – as long as London's fine, they don't care."
Graham Lowe, a warehouse superviser and ex-Labour voter, said he had switched his vote because of Ukip's stance on immigration. "Every night in the pub the conversation turns to foreign workers," he said."
"Nuttall, Ukip's deputy leader, explained that winning council seats on 22 May is now the party's priority, describing the European elections on the same day as a sideshow."
"Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander has set up a unit to counter the threat of UKIP stealing traditional supporters in places such as Manchester"
Mr. K, the warmery bloody annoys me. I wouldn't mind if they were making legitimate points, but it's just bullshit. Sky's science correspondent was talking about a pattern emerging (prolonged rain), which is fair enough, but you can't say "This is unusual = global warming caused largely or entirely by industrial activity of mankind". You might as well suggest Poseidon is angry.
The Earth has always warmed and cooled. It's 4bn years old, so taking records from decades or even centuries ago isn't that great, and even if we do we see warm periods during the reigns of Caligul/Claudius and Henry VIII.
And, even if it's 100% accurate, stopping it requires reducing carbon emissions from Africa, South America, China and India. How realistic is that? It's impossible.
Meanwhile, we're going to close Eggborough power station which could push prices up by 10%, because coal is the excrement of Satan and only wind farms will appease Warmor, the one true god.
And where is this bloody warming? Global temperatures have plateaued for a decade and a half. This is neither predicted nor explained by the scientists (if they're worthy of the name).
Mr. Eagles, or even longer odds than that, now and then.
Quite so Mr Dancer. I was reading a book a few years back Why the West rules - for now by Ian Morris. He does a survey of human development going back a million years or so. One of the things which is a recurrent item is just how frequently Eath's thermostsat clicks on and off and a lot of it within recent history. Our generation is a bit too self obsessed in seeing weather as somehow a unique event.
I find it astonishing that so many people without science or engineering backgrounds have such strong views on the veracity of global warming.
I find it equally amazing that so many people who say "I don't believe in global warming.." follow it up with "...and even if it was true..."
Surely the two questions are completely distinct.
Yet there seems to be an almost 100% correlation between those who disbelieve it, and those who support inaction even if it is true. And vice-versa.
Personally, I am a 'weak sceptic'. I accept that the earth has warmed, and I find the NOAA ocean heat content data extremely persuasive. However, I am yet to be convinced that (a) there are easy human answers to the problem, and (b) mitigation is not cheaper than extreme carbon cuts.
Comments
Also, has anyone called for the Thames to be dredged yet?
30,000 views of Tommy's speech in a week. How many do you think Dave's 'Brand UK' waffle will get?
Are you sure?
Apparently they're going to improve health, sort out education, grow the economy, stop the floods - AND cut the deficit.
Excepting ( who ain't leading anything) Lord Smith, who was booed from the area. Pronto!
However, Farage was in excellent form yesterday and did UKIP no harm whatsoever.
One Direction crap, 200,000,000 views
I love you very much. Life would seem so empty if you left us all so please stay.
Hugs and kisses
Mr Brooke xxx
For the Kinnock family bank balance...
Only we can solve your problems. Vote us.
"Yet it's not all bad news. Uniquely, wetlands can be created – or recreated – much more quickly and easily than other vital habitats such as ancient woodlands, hedgerows or rainforest. As Baroness Barbara Young, chief executive of the Environment Agency, says, "Just add water!""
The EA tends to be a bit green (OK, I'm not, so I would think that).
Dredging? Think of all the little creepy-crawlies and their habitats that would disrupt.
1. Those who believe in the magic money tree.
2. Those who don't.
Those in category 1 outnumber those in category 2 by at least an order of magnitude.
Pretty much all Labour politicians believe in the magic money tree. Nigel Farage believes in the magic money tree. The majority of Liberal Democrat politicians believe in it - but most have agreed to suspend disbelief for a few years.
And many Conservative politicians do too.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/10627088/Six-Nations-2014-Scotland-should-be-told-to-shape-up-or-ship-out.html
"Scotland should be told by the Six Nations Championship to start taking it seriously or step aside for another country to have a go. "
it's not you, it's me.
Regretfully,
Divvie.
But there is no need to profess your complete commitment to fighting your seat on PB. It is bad enough having to listen to coach-speak about "positives" at Sochi and to hear how all the TeamGB ski-jumpers are "fit and confident".
The main and interesting point though is the revelation by the ONS (and confirmed by other economic research) that employees in the manufacturing sector are both more productive and, as a consequence, being better paid than those in other sectors.
The extent of this trend, and self-realisation amongst those benefitting, must surely be a factor influencing voting intention in the Midlands marginals.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25656426
Which is more or less what the climate change scientist said on WTWE R4 yesterday, despite disgraceful leading from the interviewer
[One Direction's] cheeky Irish crooner, Niall Horan, has been involved in an entertaining Twitter argument with Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips, which culminated in Phillips, over 16 stone of pure hardness, inviting Horan, and "the rest of the Beatles" down to a Wales training session to call him an "idiot" to his face.
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/one-directions-niall-horan-in-twitter-spat-with-wales-scrumhalf-mike-phillips-9117606.html
I blame our education system. Economics and magic money tree scepticism should be taught from primary school onwards.
To an extent the same objection might apply to Andrew Mitchell. Of course it's true that Mitchell seems to have been unfairly treated, and Cameron will want to appoint him to some suitable post (although as Life_in_market_town points out, there is still a pending legal case). However, it's not clear to me why an EU Commissioner post in particular would be a suitable one for Mitchell, or indeed if he would that rather than a return to government. So, whilst I think he's a perfectly possible candidate, the odds look mean to me.
Thinking more widely, JackW might be more on the right track in pointing to some of the slightly older politicians who are less active now in UK politics. But who knows? The problem with this market is that there are simply too many possible candidates, and the ones the bookies have listed are not necessarily the ones on Cameron's shortlist.
Does anyone have a link to the actual ladbrokes market, I can't find it.
I reckon One Direction might be in with a shout against the current Scotland team. They could probably manage a better lineout anyway.
BBC report seems to have missed the bit about the EA's 2008 decision to encourage flooding.
By 'creepy-crawlies', I meant the insect/worm life, not the big girl's blouses that cry their eyes out when the weather discomforts them.
Where's the bodies, says I.
Bring in the Dutch, they sorted the fens out efficiently, and they didn't worry about the habitat of the lesser spotted Lincolnshire worm.
This might be more important to Cameron than the exact identity of the Commissioner, and so he might choose a Commissioner on the basis that they have the relevant experience that would make it easier for the UK to argue for the Commission post he would most like us to have.
Miss DiCanio, not sure. Didn't see the whole match, and didn't catch sight of Salmond.
http://www.jubileeriver.co.uk/Jubilee River story - 0550.htm
and
http://www.jubileeriver.co.uk/Dredging%20Summary%20July2009.pdf
But the situation in the areas of the Thames that are flooding at the moment is very different from that on the levels - the Thames is a classic major riverine system, whereas the levels are riverine systems, including tidal, on reclaimed land barely above sea level.
The desire for genius children is a powerful force in middle-class Britain and it's making everyone miserable, especially our offspring, says Alex Proud":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/10623941/Your-child-is-not-a-genius.-Get-over-it.html
On floods, there appears to have been little shift in the polls. I'd guess most people think it's rained lots, for ages, so there's bound to be flooding.
I'm fairly sure that the logic for not dredging out the Thames would first and foremost be the desire to avoid catastrophic flooding through the middle of London though. On the other hand, on a similar principle, I suppose the Thames Barrier *might* have been built solely to protect the small but scientifically significant population of southern striped sand eels. Unlikely though.
The great Morus tipped her at 50/1 back in 2008.
The irony was, Morus was in America at the time, and couldn't back her himself, but a few PBers did.
LOL
https://mobile.twitter.com/londil
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/heritage/battle-lines-drawn-over-bannockburn-row-1-3300359
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26024375
Also, why on Earth is the Home Office responding to this with "we didn't renew contracts" etc? Surely people should be going to jail for this? It's fraud on a massive scale: people should be getting six months for each person in the class, multiplied by however many classes they did it for.
MorrisF1, for anyone interested in an eclectic mix of weird research, fantasy stuff and F1.
Hence not Lansley.
The Swiss referendum question doesn't specify what shape the immigration quotas would take, but only instructs the Swiss Parliament to draft legislation addressing the issue within the next three years. Much can still happen. However, no matter what, the EU will most certainly negotiate any revised deal with one eye firmly fixed on London, worrying about giving the Brits ideas. And for anyone with even the slightest interest in Britain’s future place in Europe, this is a key one to watch.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/finance/matspersson/100026608/eu-immigration-why-ukip-should-pay-close-attention-to-what-happens-next-in-switzerland
What good are visits from politiçians to the people affected by the floods in Somerset?
8 inches of snow in Tokyo the HEAVIEST in DECADES: LOL
The figures don't need much spinning. They speak for themselves.
Borrowing flat. Cash in circulation up 10%. Deposits at banks up 15%.
The caution is being shown in consumption restraint and aversion to credit rather than cash holding which may derive more, indirectly, from QE stimulus than stuffing mattresses,.
The figures do illustrate though why the base rate is unlikely to rise in the short term. Pushing the rate up typically increases saving, reduces borrowing and restrains consumption. Looking at the current figures it is clear that none of these three objectives would be appropriate to today's state of household finances!
Oops!
Surely you should be questing after truth, rather than seeking out things that reinforce your existing worldview.
Like you do? Don't make me laugh!
10/02/2014 09:54
Soon our rivers will have forgotten what water looks like warns Monbiot with characteristic insight in 2006 theguardian.com/commentisfree/…
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/oct/10/comment.water?CMP=twt_gu
I think Salmond avoided Murrayfield because he had reason to fear a " Ceaușescu moment ".
Meanwhile, Australia is on fire.
Did you join the Labour party in Oxford ?
Lovely and sunny the next day though, so global warming was only conclusively disproved for 24 hours, after which it it was conclusively proved again.
Alternatively, your method of deciding whether there is global warming or not is not very clever.
Negative: VIP has to be escorted around thus consuming some resource that could be used to achieve something more useful.
I reckon it's a bad habit that we've developed, but as senior politicians spend less time talking directly to normal people, and more time on stage-managed events, it might be better than the likely alternative, if not ideal.
Graham Lowe, a warehouse superviser and ex-Labour voter, said he had switched his vote because of Ukip's stance on immigration. "Every night in the pub the conversation turns to foreign workers," he said."
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/09/ukip-steal-labour-votes-north
I don't have any strong political allegience.
I don't believe there is enough evidence to disprove or prove global warming right now.
Have you heard of projection?
The Earth has always warmed and cooled. It's 4bn years old, so taking records from decades or even centuries ago isn't that great, and even if we do we see warm periods during the reigns of Caligul/Claudius and Henry VIII.
And, even if it's 100% accurate, stopping it requires reducing carbon emissions from Africa, South America, China and India. How realistic is that? It's impossible.
Meanwhile, we're going to close Eggborough power station which could push prices up by 10%, because coal is the excrement of Satan and only wind farms will appease Warmor, the one true god.
And where is this bloody warming? Global temperatures have plateaued for a decade and a half. This is neither predicted nor explained by the scientists (if they're worthy of the name).
Mr. Eagles, or even longer odds than that, now and then.
Mr. Isam, I see your Monbiot article and raise you this: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/snowfalls-are-now-just-a-thing-of-the-past-724017.html
First big indication of how scared Labour now is of UKIP http://ukip.org/newsroom/news/1148-labour-accused-of-running-scared-of-ukip-as-it-sets-up-special-unit-to-try-and-slow-flood-of-voters-to-nigel-farage-s-party …
!!
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/labour-targeting-ukip-nigel-farages-3130069#ixzz2suoVnBL8
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I find it equally amazing that so many people who say "I don't believe in global warming.." follow it up with "...and even if it was true..."
Surely the two questions are completely distinct.
Yet there seems to be an almost 100% correlation between those who disbelieve it, and those who support inaction even if it is true. And vice-versa.
Personally, I am a 'weak sceptic'. I accept that the earth has warmed, and I find the NOAA ocean heat content data extremely persuasive. However, I am yet to be convinced that (a) there are easy human answers to the problem, and (b) mitigation is not cheaper than extreme carbon cuts.